Arch steel shank



Oct. 5, 1948. v F. AQLFIILINO ARCH STEEL SHANK Filed April 22, 1946 ll V Patented Oct. 5, 1948 units 1;!

ARCH STEEL. SHANK 1 Frank Aquilino, New York, N; Y. Application April 22., 1946,. SerialiN0..663',849

' 3 Claims. (01. sea-7s.

This invention relatesto shank reinforcements as employed in shoe structures. a v

A particular object of the invention is to provide a metallic supporting member in the nature ofa steel arch which is applied to the shank of a shoe in such a manner that the shank portion.

of the shoe will be reinforced, and a steel arch of such construction that it can be applied to either the outer or the inner side of the sole.

Other important objects of the invention are to provide arched steel shanks which are so shaped that they will provide a lateral support at the mid-portion of the. heel so that the extended shank engaging parts will have. an arch supporting effect; to provide means in. connect'ionwith the supporting. device that will prevent its skewing or becoming accidentally misplaced; to provide holding means for securely fastening the shank member in themedian line of the shoe; and. to provide'for a reinforcing tongue portion on the'sha'nkmember that will render the latter rigid and at the same time prevent fracture of the metal. due to the constant flexing that occurs in walking. I

For further comprehension of the invention, andiof the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material. part of this disclosure:

l Fig. 1 is a'view in perspective looking at. the bottom of a partly finished shoe before the outer sole is appliedthereto and showing the shank support in position.

Fig. 2 is a View in perspective of the shank support illustrated in Fig. l and showing the curved shape thereof.

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of a modified form of steel shank.

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective showing a further modified form of arch supporting shank member.

Fig. 5 is a view partly in sectional elevation showing a shoe structure to which has been applied a further modified form of shank support.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the shank support illustrated in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 indicates a shoe, the inner sole of which is indicated at l I, the latter extending rearwardly to formthe heel portion I2. In order to reinforce the shank portion [3 of the shoe I provide a steel arch shank piece I4 which is shaped to provide a body plate portion l5 and an integral bowed tongue extension l6.

The tongue I6 is embossed centrally to provide a reinforce bead I! which extends substantially the length of the tongue l6 and terminates in the plate portion I5. At the end of the tongue an opening it! is provided through the medium of which the outer end of the tongue may be secured to the sole of the shoe. Like openings l9 are provided at the end of the plate portion 15 opposite the tongue portion l6, these openings I9 being arranged laterally. of the plate and the central one being disposed in an extension 20.

slotted as at 2| to provide a forked end for the plate portion-l5 through the medium of which the shank support can be initially located in proper position in contact with the sole of the shoe.

As will be understood in quantity production the placing of the shank-support in proper position on the shoe is important because it is essential that the. tongue underlie the exact center of the shank portion of the shoe and. to this end a brad driven in the center of the heel l2 may form a pivot point whenthe. forked end 2| of the shank piece engages the same to permit swinging movement of the tongue [6 for proper centered location. When the shank support has been properly positioned, suitable brads may be used in the openings IB and I9 to permanently fix the support in place against the sole and heel ofv the shoe so that effective arch reinforce is provided.

In the form ofitheiinvention illustrated in Fig. 3 a plate portion 22 forms the body or heel engaging portion of the support device whose supporting character is enhanced by the rearwardly projecting tab 2.3., the plate 22 being provided withfbrad. perforations 24 through the medium of which thesupport may be secured to the shoe. The plate 22 is extended to. provide the tapering tongue. portion 25 which. terminates at its outer endin a lip zfidisposed between the prongs 2'! formed at the. opposite sides of said lip 26 in the end ,ofthe tongue 25.. The side edges of the support at a point intermediate the plate 22 and the tongue 25 are also shaped to provide prong members 28 through the medium of which the shank support may be anchored in the shoe.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4 a plate portion 30 of the support is shouldered at its opposite edges as at 3| to provide the tab 32 having openings 33 which together with the openings 34 in the plate portion '30 provide means whereby the brace may be secured to the sole of the shoe. The plate 30 is extended to provide the oval shaped shank portion 36 which is longitudinally embossed with a rib 31 and terminates in a tab 38 having'opening 39 through the medium of which the shank portion may be attached to the sole. I

Flanking the inner end of the tab 38 vertical prongs 39 are employed as well as vertical prongs 40 adjacent the center of the shank support. The prongs 40 prevent lateral or sidewise movement of the support while the prongs 39 prevent endwise movement thereof, the prongs thus coacting to anchor the shank support and prevent accidental slippage thereof. The oval shape of the shank member 36 provides lateral support at the shank portion of the shoe.

Referring to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the heel of the shoe is indicated as at 42 and to the outer portion of the sole 43 is attached the shank support 44. The latter comprises the heel plate 45 having a tab 6 and flanking prongs 41, the side edges of the portion 45 being substantially straight and extending to a point adjacent the heel 42. The tab 45 is provided with an opening 48, which with similar openings in the heel plate 45, provides for attachment of the shank support to the sole.

The shank support 44 is provided with a forwardly extending tapered tongue 49 which is bowed to conform to the contour of the shank portion of the sole and is provided with a central reinforce rib 55 extending the length thereof. Intermediate the heel plate and the tongue a support is provided by a punched out shoulder plate 5| which is arranged to abut the forward face of the heel in order to prevent rearward movement of the support member. Side prongs 52 are also provided on the plate 45 and these prevent lateral move ment of the support which is further secured in position by brads in engagement with the openngs 53 at the forward end of the tongue 49.

The improved steel shank support may be made of any suitable metal, steel being referred to for convenience of illustration, and in each instance the support is made of a single piece of metal formed to the desired shape. It is to be noted that the support may be used in connection with a whole sole or with a split or half sole and in the latter use will effectively hold the parts of the shoe together to provide a unitary structure.

While I may have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A reinforcement member for the shank of a shoe comprising a plate portion, an integral tongue extending from one end of said plate and being bowed to conform to the shape of the shank, a reinforce rib formed centrally of said tongue and extending into said plate portion. said plate portion being substantially as wide as said tongue and constituting a lateral support member for attachment to the sole of a shoe at the heel portion thereof, means for attaching said member to the sole of a shoe with the tongue underlying said shank portion, a tab projecting from the end of the plate opposite to and in alignment with said tongue and prongs at the side edges of said plate for engagement with said sole.

2. A reinforcement member for the shank of a shoe comprising a plate portion, an integral tongue extending from one end of said plate and being bowed to conform to the shape of the shank, a reinforce rib formed centrally of said tongue and extending into said plate portion, said plate portion being substantially as wide as said tongue and constituting a lateral support member for attachment to the sole of a shoe at the heel portion thereof, means for attaching said member to the sole of a shoe with the tongue underlying said shank portion including prongs at the side edges of said member intermediate the plate and tongue portions and prongs at the end of said tongue and said prongs coacting to prevent longiattachment to the sole of a shoe at the heel portion thereof, means for attaching said member to the sole of a shoe with the tongue underlying said shank portion including side and end prongs cooperating to prevent displacement of said member and said tongue being substantially oval in shape to provide lateral support at the arch portion of the shoe.

FRANK AQUILINO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

